Girl's life saved by eye test

A routine examination led to a life-saving discovery for 14-year-old Niamh Kane. Catherine Scott reports.
Niamh Kane, 14, having her eyes checked at Vision Express in SheffieldNiamh Kane, 14, having her eyes checked at Vision Express in Sheffield
Niamh Kane, 14, having her eyes checked at Vision Express in Sheffield

A schoolgirl has thanked the opticians that saved her life.

Niamh Kane, 14, had her life saved thanks to the sharp eye of an optometrist who identified a problem during a routine eye test, leading to a diagnosis of hydrocephalus caused by a benign brain tumour.

It was in march last year that Niamh’s parents took her to Vision Express Meadowhall following concerns that the teenager’s frequent headaches were due to a need for glasses.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Niamh had started to suffer from headaches and migraines and although there is a family history of these, we thought we’d get her checked out in case it was related to a sight problem,” said dad, Iain, 45.

“We’ve always taken Niamh and her younger brother Joshua for regular checks; I’ve worn glasses since I was 15 and know how important it is to look after your eye health.” During the test, the concerned parents mentioned the recurring headaches to the optometrist.

“The optometrist considered Niamh’s complaints and completed a thorough eye test, which showed a slight abnormality around the optic nerve,” says Iain.

Although Niamh was not experiencing any other obvious symptoms to indicate a serious condition, the opromotrist made a referral for the youngster to be seen by a specialist.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Two weeks later, Niamh’s mother took her daughter to Sheffield Children’s Hospital expecting no problems. However, tests showed Niamh had hydrocephalus – a build-up of fluid on the brain which causes pressure.

The potentially fatal condition was due to a benign brain tumour and needed urgent treatment.

Iain, who is director of finance and operations at Sheffield High School for Girls where Niamh is a pupil said: “The doctors said it was a fantastic spot by the optometrist and mentioning the headaches had helped. Niamh had two options for emergency surgery and made the brave decision to have the bigger operation which would mean she wouldn’t need any future procedures.

“She asked me ‘am I going to die?’ If the tumour hadn’t of been caught, it would have been life-limiting and we are all very grateful to Vision Express for their help with the diagnosis.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The next morning Niamh had surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain.

“It was only a 15-minute procedure but we were waiting tensely for almost two hours. Within two hours of the operation, Niamh was sat up having a bacon sandwich and we were able to take her home the following evening,” says Iain.

“Niamh’s progress has been amazing – she returned to school three weeks later. One month after the surgery, tests showed she had 20/20 vision and she no longer suffers from intense headaches and migraines.”

Niamh’s parents have also noticed an improvement in their daughter’s performance at school since the surgery and the 14-year-old is now hoping to pursue a career in medicine or healthcare.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Describing the experience as ‘life-changing for the whole family’, Iain expresses their undying gratitude to Vision Express. He said: “The tumour is still there, but it’s benign and won’t change. Niamh will continue to be seen for regular check-ups and MRI scans, but 12 months on, she’s a normal teenage girl. You would never know what she’s been through.

“We can’t thank Vision Express enough for saving my daughter’s life and would advise anyone to have regular eye tests, even if you think your vision is perfect. You don’t know what could be going on and a simple test could prevent something quite catastrophic.”

Vision Express Meadowhall store manager Alana Reid said: “All too often people dismiss symptoms that could lead to a vital diagnosis. The Kane family’s experience really highlights the importance of having your children’s eye’s tested regularly, as well as being vigilant around any recurring or out of the ordinary symptoms.

“We have over 100 different ways to assess how your eyes are working. Our expert optometrists select the tests most appropriate to you, based on the personal information you have given them so we can gain a full picture of your eye health. Eye tests also allow us to check for any underlying eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, broader conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and in this case abnormalities that could indicate something more sinister.”

Related topics: